woodruff



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. WOODRUFF 88 G. BARSON. APPARATUS POR MAKING SPRINGS. No. 288,184. Patented Nov. 28, 1882.

l I I I I I l I l I I l A Mi E N. PETERS. wwwmhqrgpmn vlamingen. LLC.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. 'WOODRUFHE G. BARSON.

APPARATUS POR MAKING SPRINGS. Y

No. 268,164.' Patented Nov. 28,1882K `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT WOODRUFF AND GEORGE BARSON, OF SEI'IEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,164, dated November` 28, 1882.

Application filed August 19, 188i). (No modeLl Patented in England January 18, 1882, No. 253.

T o all whom it may concern Be t'known that we, HERBERT WOODRUFF and GEORGE BAEsON, both of Sheiiield, in the Kingdom ot' England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Laminated Springs and in Apparatus to be used for this Purpose, of which the following is a speciticatien.

This invention has reference to an improved process of and apparatusfor bending and hardening laminated or leafsprings; and the invention consists, first, of a process of bending and hardening-theleaves which form the laminated spring by rst shaping the heated leaves in an elastic mold, then separating them so as to be a short distance apart from each other, then immersing the same into water to harden the leaves, and, finally, tempering and completing the spring. A

The invention consists, secondly, of an apparatus by which the springs are shaped and immersed, as will appear more fully hereinafter,

and tinally be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingr drawings, Figurel represents a side elevation, partly in section, of our improved apparatus for bending and hardening laminated springs. Fig. 2 is a plan; and Fig. 3, a sectional side view of the same placed in position on a workin g-bench, to insert the spring-leaves.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

To bend the leaves into proper form and hold them while they are hardened, we employ a narrow oblong frame or cramp, A, mounted upon wheels B, or otherwise supported, as may be found most convenient, either vertical, horizontal, orotherwise, (in the drawingsitis shown horizontal,) so that Ait may readily be moved about from place to place. Preferably it is formed with legs projecting from the longer sides near the center, and having supportingwheels mounted upon it, so that the frame may be moved about from place to place.

To one end of the frame or cramp is secured a long block, C, which is of a curved form, and provided with screw-bolts D, passing through it, havingnuts on each side of the block, so that the screw-bolts can be firmly secured in position. These bolts have enlarged heads formed at their inner ends, which heads bear upon a plate of steel, E, that forms both a sliding and pressing surface actin g upon the leaves of steel which compose the spring. This plate E is curved in such a manner as to conform to the outer circumference of the laminated spring, but so made that it will follow up any change in the form ofthe spring during the process of manufacture. To obtain this elasticity, one or more springs of lany convenient form are used in connect-ion with the screw-bolts at each sido of the frame A, a volute spring, F, being shown in the drawings. Through the other end of the cramp or frameA passes a long screw, G, parallel with the longer sides of the cramp, which screw has a follower, I, at one end and at the outer end a hand-wheel, H. By this or any other-means the necessary pressure is applied to form the spring to the desired shape.- The springleaves are iirst heated in the furnace, and then inserted in the frame or cramp A, so that their ends rest upon the steel plate E. They may be threaded upon a mandrel if the plates have holes in the center, or, if studded, they will be secured in some convenient manner, The follower, I, presses a block, I', which is composed of one or more spring-plates that have been previously cambered or bent to the required form against the spring-leaves. The block I may be interposed between the follower I and the spring-leaves, oriit maybe attached to the end of the follower I. By turning the hand-wheel H the screw will be put in motion and the leaves confined between the plate E and the block or plates l', and thereby pressed into shape. This work is done while the machine is supported Von a suitable bench, K, that has a central groove or opening i'n it to receive the lower part of the frame or cramp. When the spring-leaves have been shaped the hand'wheel H is reversed, which relieves the pressure on the leaves and causes them to separate from each other by the action of the plate E and springsF.

To insure the complete separation of the leaves, a tool, L, in the form of a comb is used, the number of teeth corresponding with the number of spaces between the plates of the spring. The teeth of the comb are driven in between the leaves, so forcin g them apart, after which the comb may or may not be removed before insertion in the water. Having fixed the comb in position, the handle M is also afxed to the end of the screw G, and the apparatus is ready for removal to the bosh or waterrank to be immersed in the water to harden the leaves. The lever Mis then elevated, as shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines, so that the apparatus is tilted and the leaves are immersed in the water. By moving the handle backward and forward a reciprocating motion is given to the leaves in the water, which will force the water through theintermediate spaces andinsure the complete and uniform hardening of the leaves. NfvThen the spring is cold the handle M is drawn down and the apparatus wheeled away to the furnace for tempering previous to hooping and completing the spring.

The advantages of our improved apparatus are, rst, that the same is portable, and can thereby be quickly and easily moved from place to place; secondly, the simplicity by which the springleavesare immersed into water and reciprocated in the. same, for quickly hardening the spring; thirdly, that the leaves may be pressed in one operation, or, if desired, may be pressed and hardened in certain sections.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- I', substantially as set forth.

-2 eeeaiea 1. The combination of a wheeled frame or cramp, A, curved block C, headed screws D, shaping-plate, E,follower Land pressing-plates 2. The combination of a wheeled frame or cramp, A, curved block C, having headed screws D, one or more ot' which at each side ofthe cramp are provided with springs F, shaping-plate E, follower I, pressing-plates l, and screw-rod G, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a wheeled frame or cramp, A, curved block G, screws D, shapingplate E, follower I, pressing-plates I', screwrod G, and separating-comb L, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

H ERB ERT VOODRUFF. G EORG E BARSON.

Witnesses:

U. B. WEBSTER,

U. S. Consul. F. F. HIBBEn'r, His Clerk. 

